Due to the EU’s Global Data Protection Regulation, our website is currently unavailable to visitors from most European countries. We apologize for this inconvenience and encourage you to visit www.motortrend.com for the latest on new cars, car reviews and news, concept cars and auto show coverage, awards and much more.MOTORTREND.COM

2020 BMW X1 Gets Cosmetic and Interior Updates

The 2020 BMW X1 will be updated slightly, helping it fit in a little better with the recently redesigned BMW X3 and all-new BMW X5 and X7. Changes to the smallest SUV in BMW's lineup are slight, but taken in whole they do help modernize the X1 and keep it relevant for a couple more years.

Kidney Transplant

The most apparent exterior changes reside on the front fascia, where an upsized version of BMW's kidney grille appears. Unlike the gargantuan opening on the X5 and facelifted 7 Series sedan, the X1's new schnoz is relatively inoffensive, suiting the subcompact crossover well. The X1 also gets optional LED headlights that incorporate BMW's modern hexagonal motif for the "corona rings." Furthermore, the front bumper is reshaped, with LED foglights hanging out in the larger lower corner openings.

The rear has also been updated slightly courtesy of L-shaped light bars in the taillights that recall the new-for-2020 BMW 3 Series sedan. The taillights themselves have been restyled as well, and larger tailpipes provide a bit more visual aggression. We like the new look.

Big-Screen Bragging Rights

The 2020 BMW X1 now comes standard with the 8.8-inch touchscreen that was optional on the previous year's model. Kitted with the latest version of BMW's intuitive iDrive interface and standard navigation, the touchscreen is a welcome improvement over last year's piddly 6.5-inch display that screamed "loss leader" when compared to other BMW interiors.

The X1 will also be compatible with Apple CarPlayâlike BMW's current offerings, a dealer can unlock CarPlay for a fee. We're not gonna lie, BMW's practice of equipping its vehicles with features, but not allowing owners access to them unless they pay up, drives us batty. But to the German automaker, every penny counts.

Other interior changes are limited to a few baubles: "X1" projection puddle lamps, decorative contrast stitching on the dash and floor mats, available Dakota leather with color-matched dashboard and door handle accents, and a new electronic gear selector.

Staying the Course

Unchanged for 2020 is the X1's 2.0L turbocharged I-4, which produces a reasonable 228 hp between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm and a stout 258 lb-ft between 1,450 and 4,500 rpm. BMW claims a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds for the all-wheel-drive xDrive28i model or 6.6 seconds for the front-drive sDrive28i.

The 2020 BMW X1 goes on sale in late 2019, a few months after it goes into production in July. We'd be surprised to see the SUV's price creep up more than a grand from the 2019 X1—$35,945 with destination for the sDrive28i and $2,000 more for the xDrive28i.